Oct 2
Easy way to defer a next action
I often find myself deferring tasks a few days into the future because I overestimate what I can realistically accomplish. While this is a normal part of GTD, the process of deferring and re-evaluating actions should be as frictionless as possible.
When I realize that an action is no longer the right next action for today, I want to quickly defer it to a more appropriate date so that my system remains trustworthy and reflects current reality.
Currently, deferring an item requires several steps:
1. Open the item
2. Click "Next"
3. Select "Schedule"
4. Choose a date
5. Remove the Focus star
6. Click "Save"
This creates unnecessary friction for a task that is a common part of reviewing commitments and adjusting plans based on changing priorities, available time, energy, and context.
It would be extremely helpful to have quick actions such as:
- Defer to Tomorrow
- Defer to Next Business Day
- Defer 1 Week
- Remove from Focus and Defer
Ideally, these actions could be performed directly from the list view without opening the item, requiring only one or two clicks. This would make it much easier to maintain an accurate Next Actions list, keep the Focus list clean, and ensure the system reflects what I can and should be doing right now.
Pending
While this isn't exactly what you asked for, it's another way to reschedule. From the list view, drag/drop the item to the "Scheduled" list where you will be prompted with a calendar. This takes only 1 drag and 1 click. Focus will be removed. Also works for multiple tasks selected.